Device for Producing a Printed Image at at Least One Printed Image Location

ABSTRACT

A printed image is produced at least one printed image location using a printing machine with at least one illuminating device that produces at least one printed image at a number of printed image locations. These respective printed images belong to the same page of a printed product to be produced by the printing machine. This page of the printed product exists in the form of a file containing image data before it is produced as the printed image. That file contains image data of all of the printed images of the page of the printed product. A raster image processor is aligned with each printed image location and converts only image data of the printed images of the page of the printed product into raster data, with that printed image being assigned to a respective printed image position. A network is provided for use in the electronic communication of at least image data. Each raster image processor is connected to this network by an interface which receives data. The network provides the interface of each raster image processor with the file containing the image data of all of the printed images of the pages of the printed product.

The invention relates to a device for producing a printing image at least one printing image location in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

An arrangement for rapid image transmission in printing presses, as well as a corresponding method, is known from DE 102 51 573 A1, wherein memory units are connected by means of a bus system with a computer, which is designed as a data manager for intermediate buffering of image data received from an RIP (raster image processor), as well as with the illustrating unit for image production, wherein each illustrating unit respectively communicates with one of the memory units and directly reads the image data out of the respective memory unit.

A method for the generation of screen data for image-producing units of a printing press is known from DE 100 01 211 A1, wherein the raw image data are separated into a plurality of partial images, which respectively correspond to a printing ink color, the partial images are output to a plurality of screen processors corresponding to the number of the colors to be printed, and the partial images are processed by the screen processors during identical time periods into screen data for output to respectively one of the illustrating units.

A printing press having several forme cylinders and a control unit is known from EP 1 559 549 A1, wherein the control unit arranged in the printing press is connected with an RIP (raster image processor) via a LAN, wherein the control unit downloads print data, generated by the RIP, from several print orders in previously fixed time intervals or at fixed times via the LAN into a memory of the control unit, wherein the individual printing orders can be selected from a display device connected with the control unit.

A system for digital illustration is known from DE 103 53 870 A1, wherein an image processing unit, which is arranged in a printing press and assigned to a printing group, comprises an RIP (raster image processor) and a data buffer, wherein the image processing unit is connected with a pre-printing stage interface, through which image data can reach the image processing unit.

An illustrating system is known from USP 2003/0048467 A1, which is connected to a local net, for example a LAN, or a public net, for example the internet.

From EP 0 997 850 A1 it is known to provide a raster image processor (RIP) in, for example, an FPGA (field-programmable gate array).

The object of the invention is based on creating a device for producing a printing image at least one printing image location, wherein the raster-forming process can be executed respectively faster and according to the requirements.

In accordance with the invention, this object is attained by means of the characteristics of claim 1.

The advantages which can be attained by the invention lie in particular in that a raster-forming process can be performed faster and according to the requirements. The decision as to which printing image is formed at which printing image location can be reserved until shortly before the execution of the printing command, because there is no rigid assignment of defined image data to a defined printing image location. Since every raster-forming process provides a raster of only a selected portion of the image data, the raster-forming process can be executed more rapidly than with a central raster image processor, which executes the raster-forming process for all portions of the image data. As a result, a flexible production of the printed product is made possible with a free selection of the assignment of, for example, color extracts, in particular to forme cylinders of a printing press, so that a high degree of availability regarding the press units partaking in the production process exists, which is very advantageous in particular in complex printing presses with several sections, each with several press units.

The raster data which are generated for each color separation of a page of the printed product to be manufactured are generated in a decentralized manner in the near vicinity of the illustrating device; they can respectively be stored in a data set in a memory device. With this, time-intensive, interference-prone loading processes of large amounts of data from the pre-printing stage to the illustrating device in, or at least at, the printing press can be omitted. By means of decentralized raster formation, the raster data are generated at the location where they are needed from by far less voluminous image data, which are therefore more easily capable of being transmitted, for example via a network for electronic communication. By means of the intermediate storage of the raster data it is furthermore possible to avoid a summary of the voluminous data flow to be transmitted in the course of the illustration process, and the raster-forming process can be decoupled from the illustrating process. Raster image processors which are arranged in a decentralized manner have the advantage that they can perform the raster-forming process parallel, i.e. simultaneously, which means a time advantage in comparison to a single raster image processor centrally retained in the pre-printing stage. As a result, the raster-forming process can therefore be performed more rapidly and, in particular more in accordance with the requirements, by taking into consideration arrangement information or placement information regarding the printing image position on the forme cylinder.

Moreover, it must be considered to be advantageous that an illustrating device assigned to a forme cylinder illustrates at least one printing image location, or printing forme, while a different forme cylinder of the same printing press, which has at least one printing image location or printing forme, takes part in an ongoing printing process performed in this printing press, which has advantageous results regarding the utilization which can be obtained with this printing press, and therefore its productivity. The concept of decentralized image processing thus has the advantage that each press unit of the printing press with its printing units and its various control devices forms an independent unit, which can autonomously process and evaluate the image data of a page to be produced received from the pre-printing stage.

A communication system, which links various networks with each other, in particular a network for the transmission of image data to at least one illustrating device with a network for the control and/or monitoring of a printing press and/or with a network for transmitting data to be processed in the pre-printing stage, improves communication between all positions of an installation involved in the production of printed products because of the increased transparency of the communication processes, and helps in a not inconsiderable way in saving expenses, which otherwise would arise from the multiple provision of signal lines and/or transmission paths, as well as their interfaces.

Further advantages can be found in the following detailed description.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, an image data management system with a central image management device in the form of a star topology,

FIG. 2, an image data management system with a central image management device in the form of a line or a ring topology,

FIG. 3, an image data management system with a central image management device in the form of a double-star topology,

FIG. 4, an image data management system with a local image management device in the form of a star topology,

FIG. 5, an image data management system with a central file server in the form of a star topology,

FIG. 6, an example of the drive management in a printing press,

FIG. 7, an example of a folding apparatus which can be incorporated into the control network.

FIGS. 1 to 3 respectively show image data managing systems, each with a central image management device, but with different topologies of a network for transmitting image data. It is common to all image data management systems represented in FIGS. 1 to 5 that image data 02 are respectively combined in a computer 01 of a pre-printing stage located ahead of the actual printing process to form a page, which is to be imprinted in different, for example in four different printing colors, wherein the page to be imprinted can contain text, graphics and/or at least one image, and wherein the image data therefore contain information regarding the contents, the color and the layout of the page to be imprinted. The image data 02 of a page of a printed product to be imprinted are combined in a data set, which can be processed by means of electronic data processing, or in a telegram which can be transmitted over a transmission path. Therefore the pre-printing stage is a work area in which a page of a printed product to be imprinted is put together, if desired, and processed, but is at least made available for the subsequent printing process.

As a rule, a printed product to be manufactured by means of the printing press consists of several imprinted pages, so that the imprinted pages can be collected in accordance with a specification laid down in the pre-printing stage in a further processing device arranged downstream of the actual printing process, for example in a folding apparatus assigned to the printing press, and combined into the desired printed product. The amount of image data 02 corresponding to each one of the pages to be imprinted is as a rule combined in a single data set, wherein this data set can easily amount to several MB (megabytes) located in a two- or even three-part range. It is at present customary, for example, to combine such image data 02 in the form of a pixel-based TIFF (tagged image file format) data set, in the form of a contour-data-coded postscript data set, or in the form of a pdf (portable document format) data set in a format combining pixel and contour data structures, and to make them available for transmission to at least one computer located downstream in the processing operation. Each one of the pages to be imprinted can have a resolution of, for example, approximately 1200 dpi to 2400 dpi, so that a data set on the order of 1 Gbit and more, or clearly more than 100 Mbytes, results. In that case the amount of data lies in the range of 400 Mbytes or more for a page to be imprinted in four colors. An amount of data in the range of several Gbytes then results for a complete newspaper with several, for example 48 pages and more, whose transmission via a network makes great demands on this network which transmits image data 02.

Such a computer 03 arranged downstream in the processing operation can be, for example, a raster image processor (RIP) 03 which, when required, converts the necessary image data 02 from the pre-printing stage into a pixel-oriented data format, i.e. a bit map format, wherein the raster image processor (RIP) 03 generates raster data 04 from the image data 02 by means of computing operations. It can also be provided that color separations—also called color extracts—, which are assigned to the printing colors, are created from the image data 02 prior to their conversion into raster data 04—either before they are conducted to the raster image processor (RIP) 03, or in the raster image processor (RIP) 03—, wherein each color separation generates a printing image to be printed, wherein the page to be created by the printing process is created by printing the printing images of different color separations belonging to a page on top of each other on a material to be imprinted, for example a web of material or a printed sheet. In four-color printing the color separations C, M, Y and K are customary, which are assigned to the four colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black. For each of the printing colors, the raster image processor (RIP) 03 generates the raster data 04 accompanying each respective color separation, wherein the raster data 04 belonging to one of the color separations specify at least the size and position of each raster point of the respective color separation, which is to be imprinted by a printing group of a printing press on the material to be imprinted. This specification of the raster points increases the data set for the amount of image data 02 associated with the printed page of the printed product to be printed in a not negligible amount. Instead of relating the position and size of the raster point to the arrangement of the raster point on the material to be imprinted, the specification of the raster point can also relate to its arrangement in relation to a forme cylinder 12 of the printing group of a printing press which takes part in the printing process, i.e. the specification states where the raster point is to be arranged, taking into consideration the angular position of the forme cylinder 12, for example, in regard to the shell surface of the latter. In this way the raster points are assigned with their respective specification to a definite printing image location in the printing press.

It is advantageous to store each of the raster data 04 created by the raster image processor (RIP) 03 for each of the color separations which are part of a page to be produced, preferably in a data set in a memory device 06, and to keep them ready for call-up there. The raster data 04 of entire color separations, or of a portion of at least one color separation, can be placed into intermediate storage in the memory device 06. Intermediate storage of the raster data 04 has the advantage that a summary of the voluminous data flow to be transmitted in the course of the illustration process can be avoided. The computer 01 of the pre-printing stage, the raster image processor (RIP) 03 and/or the memory device 06 can each advantageously be connected with a network 07 for transmitting, particularly electronically, data to be processed in the pre-printing stage, wherein the image data 02 connected with a page of the printed product to be imprinted can be processed, for example, by the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage included in this network 07 by means of at least one program customary in office communications, for example for data processing or graphic processing. At the same time a computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press performing the printing process is preferably connected to this network 07, which is a part of the pre-printing stage, wherein the computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press is also connected with a network 09 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press, wherein all required press processes can be coordinated via the network 09 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press wherein, for example, the control of the drive mechanisms of the printing press, and along with this the angular position of the forme cylinders 12, the bringing into and out of contact of the forme cylinders 12 with transfer cylinders working together with the respective forme cylinders 12, a control of the forme cylinders 12 relative to a device which cuts and/or folds the material to be imprinted, or a control of a device affecting the transport of the material to be imprinted during the printing process, can be part of this. The network 09 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press will be explained in detail later in connection with FIG. 6.

The computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press is for example designed as a control console 08, which is a part of the printing press, or is at least integrated into a control console 08, which is a part of the printing press (FIGS. 1 to 5). By means of the attachment of the computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press by means of data technology to the raster image processor (RIP) 03 and/or the memory device 06, it is possible to assign to each of the raster data 04 to be generated for each of the pages to be produced a printing location within the printing press which corresponds to a printing image location, because the computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press has data available, for example regarding the occupation of the forme cylinder 12, which are part of the printing press with respectively at least one printing forme, wherein the printing forme has at least one printing image location with a printing image to be formed at this printing image location, as well as regarding the printing process, wherein the data in regard to the printing process contain information, in particular in respect to the sequence of the color separations regarding the page to be produced in respect to the transport direction of the material to be imprinted by the printing press. The data for the occupation of the forme cylinders 12 which are part of the printing press with respectively at least one printing forme are contained, for example, in an electronically stored placement plan.

An area to be assigned to the actual printing process, which in particular is designed as a press room, into which at least one printing press performing the printing process has been placed, is located mostly spatially separated from an area to be assigned to the pre-printing stage, in which at least the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage is arranged. Preferably the printing press is designed as a printing press which sequentially prints printed images in several colors, for example in four different print colors, in the transport direction on the material to be imprinted. For example, the printing press is designed as a sheet-fed rotary printing press or as a web-fed rotary printing press.

In the preferred embodiment, the printing press is designed as a web-fed offset rotary printing press, in particular as a newspaper-printing press, in which preferably respectively one printing forme is assigned to each page of the printed products to be manufactured, wherein the printing group of this printing press imprints printing images on the material to be imprinted, which is guided through this printed press, by means of a conventional wet offset printing process or a dry offset printing process operated without a damping agent, wherein the material to be imprinted is designed as a web of material, for example a paper web. The printing press preferably imprints the web of material simultaneously on both sides in the course of its passage through the printing press, wherein printing images corresponding to the individual color separations of a page to be produced are respectively imprinted one after the other in the transport direction of the web of material.

Alternatively, the printing press can also be embodied as a printing press operating in accordance with a rotogravure printing process, wherein forme cylinders 12 of different diameters can be exchanged for each other in the printing press for producing printed products of different sizes, in particular different length. Depending on the forme cylinder 12 used, further devices participating in the printing process then must be matched to the product length determined by the respective circumference of the forme cylinder 12, for example the angular position of a cutting cylinder or a folding cylinder in a folding apparatus downstream of the printing group must be correspondingly adjusted. In this case an illustrating device 13, which provides the illustration on the forme cylinder 12, must be designed in such a way that it is possible by means of it to perform a length-variable illustration at least in the circumferential direction of the forme cylinder 12.

A further alternative embodiment of the printing press can provide that the printing process is performed without a printing forme, i.e. without the use of a particularly embodied printing forme, in that a latent, for example electrostatic, printing image, which corresponds to the raster points to printed, is formed on an image substrate, for example a drum. A further embodiment of a printing press designed for performing the printing process without a printing forme can consist in that the illustrating device 13 transfers colored printing ink to a material to be imprinted pixel-by-pixel from an ink carrier, for example designed in a cylinder shape, by the use of a light-hydraulic effect. Thus, a direct or an indirect printing process can be used.

The printing press selected as the example has been represented in FIGS. 1 to 5 in a very simplified form and in each case shows, for example, only schematically two printing units 11 stacked to form a tower-of-eight, for example H-printing units 11, wherein each H-printing unit 11 respectively has a bridge printing unit and a U-printing unit, wherein each bridge printing unit and each U-printing unit respectively consists of two cylinder pairs, each consisting of a forme cylinder 12 and a transfer cylinder (not represented), wherein the transfer cylinders of different cylinder pairs which are, however, a part of the same bridge- or U-printing unit, are placed against each other, wherein the web of material (not represented) vertically passes through each tower-of-eight between the transfer cylinders placed against each other. However, other printing group arrangements customary in newspaper printing, can be provided, for example a satellite arrangement, in particular a satellite arrangement of nine, wherein the centrally arranged printing cylinder, which is common to the four transfer cylinders, preferably has its own drive mechanism, which is independent of the drive mechanism of the transfer cylinders and/or respectively associated forme cylinders 12 and is not in a positive or mechanical connection with another drive mechanism. For reasons of clarity, only the forme cylinders 12 of each bridge- or U-printing unit are represented in FIGS. 1 to 5.

In the preferred embodiment, each forme cylinder 12 of the printing press has several, for example four or six, printing image locations (not represented) in its axial direction, wherein these printing image locations are located, for example, on concretely embodied printing formes respectively arranged on one of the forme cylinders, namely preferably exactly one of these printing image locations on each printing forme wherein, however, it is also possible to arrange several, for example two, printing image locations or printing formes. Thus, the printing press is designed, for example, as a so-called 6/2 printing press, preferably for newspaper printing, i.e. with respectively six printing image locations in the axial direction and two printing image locations in the circumferential direction of each forme cylinder 12. At least a portion of the printing image locations provided in the printing press, or printing formes arranged therein, can be embodied to be written on, or preferably re-written on, by means of a thermal, ablative illustrating method. The respective printing formes can, in particular, be embodied as process-free or non-processed printing formes, which do not require chemical, or “wet”, development. A printing image corresponding to one of the color separations of one of the pages to be produced can be formed at each printing image location, i.e. a printing image corresponding to the raster points to be printed is formed at each one of these printing image locations selected in the printing press as a function of the printed product to be manufactured in this printing press. Preferably, all printing image locations provided in the printing press, or printing formes arranged therein, can be illustrated in-line, i.e. inside of the printing press, i.e. can be provided with their respective printed image by means of at least one illustrating device 13 arranged inside the printing press.

Preferably as many illustrating devices 13 are assigned to each forme cylinder 12 as this forme cylinder 12 has printing image locations side-by-side in the axial direction, in connection with newspaper printing in particular each illustrating device 13 preferably forms a printing image on a printing forme arranged on a forme cylinder 12 exactly at the respective printing image location which is a part of this printing forme. At least one of the forme cylinders 12 arranged in the printing press can have several successive sections, preferably of the same width, in its axial direction, wherein at least one printing forme can be arranged, or at least one printing image location can be provided, in each section on the forme cylinder 12. It can also be provided that several printing image locations can be illustrated, or printing forms arranged, in each section of the forme cylinder 12 in the circumferential direction of the latter. Preferably, two printing image locations are illustrated, or two printing formes are arranged, in each section of the forme cylinder 12 in the circumferential direction of the latter. Respectively one illustrating device 13 is preferably assigned to each different section of the same forme cylinder 12, it is also possible in particular to assign each section of the forme cylinder 12 its own illustrating device 13. It can also alternatively be provided that the same illustrating device 13 illustrates all printing image locations, or printing formes, of the same forme cylinder 12 in the course of a sequential or parallel work process. If the printing press has at least two forme cylinders 12, each with at least one printing image location, or printing forme, which can be illustrated by an illustrating device 13, it is advantageous to provide that the illustrating device 13 assigned to one of these forme cylinders 12 illustrates the at least one printing image location, or printing forme, while the other forme cylinder 12 with its at least one printing image location, or printing forme, participates in an ongoing printing process performed by the printing press.

The illustrating device 13 is a physical interface generating a printing image and can, for example, respectively have a single laser system, or a laser array consisting of several lasers, or any other system creating a printing image at a printing image location, or on the printing forme, wherein the printed image generated at the printing image location, or on the printing forme, is transferred indirectly, for example by means of an offset printing process or a rotogravure printing process, to the material to be imprinted. However, the illustrating device 13 can also be embodied as an injection system, for example, so that the printing image is created without a transferring medium directly and immediately on the material to be imprinted, for example a transfer cylinder.

For controlling the illustrating device, each illustrating device 13 also has a control device 14, wherein this control device 14 is also arranged in the printing press and is preferably integrated into the component containing the illustrating device 13. Alternatively the illustrating device 13 and the control device 14 can also be designed as modules, which are spatially and functionally closely combined with each other. Thus, the illustrating device 13 and its control device 14 are preferably directly coupled with each other, wherein the illustrating device 13 physically converts the raster point information received, preferably in bits, from its control device 14 into the printed image to be produced. The control device 14 of each illustrating device 13 is respectively connected to a data line 16 wherein, in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the data lines 16 of all control devices 14 of illustrating devices 13 arranged in the printing press arranged, for example, in the same bridge-, U- or H-printing unit 11, or in the same printing tower, are connected with at least one computer 17 performing the function of a data manager. The data lines 16 can be arranged in lines, for example in the form of a fiberglass cable, of a coaxial cable, or as a twisted pair cable, or can be embodied wireless as a radio transmission link. The computer 17 embodied as a data manager is preferably arranged in the spatial vicinity of the printing tower and its printing units 11, so that the printing tower, or at least its printing units 11, respectively together with the illustrating devices 13 assigned to their forme cylinders 12, their control devices 14 and the computer 17 designed as a data manager, form a machine unit 18, indicated in each of FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5 as a dotted border. The computer 17 performing the function of a data manager can be realized, for example, in an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), and thus be embodied as a circuit (data switch) specialized in regard to the function of data assignment.

A logic unit 21 can preferably be provided as a component of the machine unit 18 which, for example, is respectively assigned to an H-printing unit 11, and is connected on the one hand with the control units 14 arranged in the respective H-printing unit 11, and on the other with the network 09 for control of and/or monitoring the printing-press, wherein the logic unit 21 respectively provides the correct flow control within each H-printing unit 11. A drive mechanism control device 22 is also preferably provided as a component of the machine unit 18, which controls and, if desired also monitors, the drive mechanisms, and therefore the rotation, of the forme cylinders 12 and transfer cylinders arranged in each printing unit 11. The drive mechanism control device 22 can conduct a signal corresponding to the angular position of one of the forme cylinders 12 to the control device 14 of the illustrating device 13 illustrating this forme cylinder 12, for example in order to couple an illustrating speed of the illustrating device 13 directed in the circumferential direction of the forme cylinder 12 supporting the printing forme to be illustrated with the speed of rotation of this forme cylinder 12, so that the speed of rotation of the forme cylinder 12 is matched to the illustrating speed of the illustrating device 13, wherein the signal corresponding to the angular position of a forme cylinder 12 is obtained by means of a preferably highly resolving encoder or of another device (not represented) detecting the rotation of the forme cylinder 12. The signal to be conducted to the control device 14 of the illustrating device 13 assigned to one of the forme cylinders 12 can be transmitted, for example, via the network 09 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press and can be received by the logic unit 21 assigned to respectively one H-printing unit 11 and transmitted further to the respective control device 14 for coordinating the illustrating process as a function of other processes in the printing unit 11, wherein the other processes affecting the illustrating process can relate to, for example, the guidance of the material to be imprinted during its transport through the printing press, an operating position of the forme cylinder 12 to be illustrated in regard to its placement against or removal from contact with a transfer cylinder working together with this forme cylinder 12, a cutting cylinder or a folding cylinder in a folding apparatus arranged downstream of the printing unit 11, a transverse fold, a longitudinal fold, a third fold or a cutter. All devices previously mentioned by way of example, which imprint the material to be imprinted or process it, have an effect on the arrangement of the printing image location to be illustrated by means of the illustrating process, for example on a printing forme or directly on the forme cylinder 12. Alternatively, or additionally, the encoder detecting the rotation of the forme cylinder 12 can also conduct its output signal directly to the control device 14 of the illustrating device 13 which illustrates this forme cylinder in order to couple an illustrating speed of the illustrating device 13 directed in the circumferential direction of this forme cylinder 12 with a speed of rotation of this forme cylinder 12, so that the speed of rotation of the forme cylinder 12 is matched to the illustrating speed of the illustrating device 13. This direct supply of the output signal of the encoder to the control device 14 of the illustrating device 13 has the advantage that the output signal of the encoder is made available to the control device 14 over a short path practically without delay, because looping through the drive mechanism control device 22 is omitted.

Preferably each machine unit 18, together with at least one further machine unit 18, can form a section of the printing press wherein, for example, a section control device 23 is assigned to each section, wherein each section control device 23 controls or regulates the assignment of the respective printing image locations to be illustrated, as well as higher-order operating modes of the machine unit 18. Preferably each forme cylinder 12 and/or transfer cylinder of the printing press, of the machine unit 18 or of at least the printing unit 11 respectively has its own drive mechanism, for example an angular-position-regulated electric motor, which is at least not in a positive or mechanical driving connection with other forme cylinders 12 or transfer cylinders of the printing press, with this machine unit 18 or at least this printing unit 11, so that each one of these forme cylinders 12 or transfer cylinders can be rotated independently of the other forme cylinders 12 or transfer cylinders of the printing press, the machine unit 18 or at least the printing unit 11. An operating state of the printing press, the machine unit 18 or at least the printing unit 11 is provided, in which one of the forme cylinders 12 is illustrated by an illustrating device 13 assigned to it, while another forme cylinder 12 of the printing press, the machine unit 18 or at least the printing unit 11 prints simultaneously or transfers colored printing ink. It can furthermore be provided that the printing image locations of all forme cylinders 12 of the same machine unit 18, or at least of the same printing unit 11 of the printing press, are simultaneously illustrated, while the printing image locations of the forme cylinders 12 of another machine unit 18, or at least another printing unit 11 of this printing press, print or transfer colored printing ink at the same time.

The computer 17 embodied as a data manager and preferably arranged in or on a machine unit 18 is itself connected to a network 19 for preferably electronically transmitting at least image data 02 and, in accordance with the examples represented in FIGS. 1 to 3, also for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, wherein the image data 02, which are a part of a page to be imprinted, and/or the raster data 04, which are a part of one of the color separations of a page to be imprinted, are preferably combined in an appropriate data set wherein, for example, at least the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage (FIG. 5) and/or the memory device 06 (FIGS. 1 to 3) are also connected to the network 19 for transmitting at least image data 02.

The network 07 for communicating, preferably electronically, data to be processed in the pre-printing stage, the network 09 for controlling and/or monitoring the printing press, and/or the network 19 for electronically transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04 can be physically arranged in lines, for example in the form of a fiberglass cable, of a coaxial cable, or as a twisted pair cable, or can be embodied wireless as a radio transmission link. For example, the networks 07, 09, 19 can be embodied by means of a linkage technology known by the identification of ethernet, also called industrial etherenet, for example as a fast ethernet with a data transmission rate of 100 MB/s, as a gigabit ethernet with a data transmission rate of 1,000 MB/s, or as a 10 gigabit ethernet with a data transmission rate of 10,000 MB/s wherein, based on the large amounts of data to be transmitted, the higher data transmission rates are preferably selected for the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04. The ethernet has been standardized to the greatest extent in IEEE Standard 802.3, wherein details for designing an ethernet-based network can be taken from this standard. Design of at least a part of at least one of the networks 07, 09, 19 as wireless transmission links is for example based on IEEE Standard 802.11 (wireless LAN), since such a network supports the ethernet data block format and works together with the ethernet. Each of the networks 07, 09, 19 has preferably been organized in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, for example.

In the preferred embodiment it has been provided that at least two of the three described networks 07, 09, 19, preferably even all three described networks 07, 09, 19, are combined into a single network, so that all data required for the operation of the printing press and for illustrating the printing image locations of its forme cylinders are transmitted over a common network. A communication system which combines in itself in a common network all network functions required for producing a printed product—starting with the pre-printing stage through the execution of the printing order up to the establishment of statistical data connected with the printing order—has the not inconsiderable commercial advantage that physical signal lines and/or transmission links can be commonly used, because of which the installation outlay for forming the required network functions is clearly reduced. Furthermore, in an area-spanning communication system, which includes at least one printing press, the manufacturing process of a printed product becomes more transparent and controllable by the personnel monitoring it.

In the exemplary embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3, a single central raster image processor (RIP) 03, for example, generates raster data 04 for each of the color separations which belong to a page to be produced and preferably stores these raster data 04 in a memory device 06 used as a data buffer. Alternatively, the raster image processor (RIP) 03 can also forward the raster data 04 directly without intermediate storage directly to a computer 17 designed as a data manager, so that the raster data 04 reach, synchronously for illustrating, one of the illustrating devices 13 assigned to respectively one of the forme cylinders 12. Thus, the raster data 04 are respectively passed on to each computer 17 designed as a data manager via the network 19 for electronically transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, from which computer 17 the raster data 04 are conducted to the respective control device 14 of one of the illustrating devices 13 respectively assigned to one of the forme cylinders 12. The assignment of the raster data 04 correctly meeting the requirements of the correct illustrating device 13 takes place, for example with the inclusion of a command to the computer 08 for the control and/or monitoring of the printing press, because this computer 08 has data available, in particular by communicating with the computer 01 in the pre-printing stage, regarding for example the occupation of forme cylinders 12, which are part of the printing press, with at least one printing forme respectively having at least one printing image location, as well as regarding the printing process, in particular regarding the sequence of the color separations which belong to a page to be produced in respect to the transport direction of the material to be imprinted through the printing press, and relays this placement information or arrangement information in the form of a signal to, for example, the respective control device 14 of one of the illustrating devices 13. The signal produced by the computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press therefore is a control signal for the selective assignment of the raster data 04 to one of the illustrating devices 13.

In connection with the raster-creating process performed in the raster image processor (RIP) 03, or within the control devices 14, one of which is assigned to each of the illustrating devices 13, the image data 02 and/or the raster data 04 can be matched to local geometric conditions relating to, for example, the printing image location, or the printing forme to be imprinted. If required, it is also possible to make corrections to the image data 02 and/or the raster data 04 wherein, for example, a negative or trapezoidal distortion can be corrected and/or spreading and/or scaling can be performed for matching. A correction of the fan-out effect can be performed in the same way. This matching, performed within the meaning of a calibration, and/or correction of the image data 02 and/or raster data 04 can alternatively or additionally provide that the control device 14 calibrates raster points determined by the raster image processor (RIP) 03 as a function of a colored printing ink to be applied to the printing image location and/or to the printing forme to be illustrated, and/or of a material to be imprinted by means of the printing image location and/or the printing forme to be illustrated, and/or that the control device 14 calibrates raster points determined by the raster image processor (RIP) 03 as a function of a signal from an inspection system (not represented) arranged in the printing press, which monitors the printing process, wherein the inspection system has in particular a camera system directed onto the material imprinted with the printing image and an image evaluation system.

In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 2, which relates to the same type of printing press with the same control functions as described in connection with FIG. 1, a line or ring topology has been realized in contrast to the exemplary embodiment described in FIG. 1 for the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, wherein a simple redundancy for increasing the protection against an outage is provided for linking the control devices 14 which are assigned to respectively one of the illustrating devices 13. In connection with this exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 2, wherein a computer 17, which performs the function of a data manager, has been omitted, so that data sets and/or telegrams sent by the pre-printing stage, for example, containing image data 02 and/or raster data 04 are brought directly and immediately to the respective control device 14 of the illustrating device 13, the compact placement of the data lines 16 is advantageous, however, this advantage must be paid for by a division of the bandwidth which can be transmitted.

In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 3, which can relate to the same type of printing press with the same machine unit 18 and/or with the same control functions as described in connection with FIG. 1, a double-star topology has been realized in contrast to the exemplary embodiment described in FIG. 1 for the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, which means that all control devices 14, which are assigned to respectively one of the illustrating devices 13, are each preferably connected to a first computer 17 performing the function of a data manager, as well as to a further, in particular second computer 17 performing the function of a data manager, wherein each one of the first and, for example the second, computers 17 performing the function of a data manager, is connected with the network 19 for electronically transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04. However, the double-star topology can also be realized without computers 17, each performing the function of a data manager. By means of the multiple, for example double, linkage of the control devices 14, which are respectively assigned to an illustrating device 13, with the network 19 for electronically transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, the protection against an outage is also increased, because each one of the control devices 14 is respectively connected with two computers 17, each performing the function of a data manager. Moreover, the particular advantage results that the available bandwidth for the image data 02 and/or raster data 04 to be transmitted to the control devices 14 is increased by means of the multiple linkage of the control devices 14 to the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04. It is thus possible in case of, for example, a double linkage of the control devices 14 to the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, that the bandwidth for these image data 02 and/or raster data 04 to be transmitted can be doubled. With an n-times linkage, this bandwidth can be correspondingly multiplied, wherein n is a whole natural number. The image data 02 and/or raster data 04 picked up from and/or distributed by the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, preferably by means of the computers 17, each performing the function of a data manager, can be assigned to the respectively responsible control devices 14 by means of a synchronous, or preferably asynchronous, protocol. Image data 02 and/or raster data 04 intended for a defined control device 14 are combined from data packages arriving there at different times and/or via different transmission paths, provided these image data 02 and/or raster data 04 are not transmitted in a connected manner to the control device 14.

In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 4, which relates to the same type of printing press with the same control functions as described in connection with FIG. 1, image data 02 are respectively combined in the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage to form a page to be imprinted in several, for example four different printing colors, and are conducted in the form of a data set or a telegram via the network 19 for transmitting at least image data 02, for example to at least one computer 17 performing the function of a data manager. Accordingly, the network 19 for transmitting at least image data 02 transmits data sets containing the complete information regarding pages of a printed product to be preferably manufactured in four-color printing, wherein these data sets can also be in a TIFF format or a JPEG format. Each one of these data sets or telegrams sent by the pre-printing stage can also be directly transmit to the respective control device 14 of the illustrating devices 13 without the use of a computer 17 performing the function of a data manager.

In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 4, the computer 17 performing the function of a data manager conducts each data set containing the complete information regarding a page to be produced, transmitted via the network 19 for electronically transmitting at least image data 02, to that control device 14 including the illustrating device 13 which will perform the illustration of the printing image location for the subsequent printing of the printed image as a function of placement information or arrangement information made available by the computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press. The image data 02 belonging to the pages are thus sent from the computer 17 performing the function of a data manager by means of the arrangement information regarding at least one printing image location, or by means of the placement information regarding at least one printing forme, to the printing image location which, in the printing press, is responsible in regard to the material to be imprinted. In this case the assignment provided by the computer 17 performing the function of a data manager can take into consideration diverse influences affecting the processing of the material to be imprinted or resulting from the intended processing of the material to be imprinted, for example the effects of transport devices on the material to be imprinted, as well as also, for example, the number of continuous webs of material to be imprinted, the effects of the folding apparatus, or also the number of pages of the printed product to be manufactured. The assignment of every data set transmitted via the network 19 for electronically transmitting at least image data 02, which contains complete information regarding one page of the printed product to be manufactured, to the respective control device 14 of one of the illustrating devices 13 takes place, for example, either by means of data which had already been added by the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage to the data set to be transmitted via the network 19 for electronically transmitting at least image data 02, or these data providing an assignment of the pages to the individual printing image locations are linked, for example, in the computer 17 performing the function of a data manager or in the respective control device 14 of one of the illustrating devices 13, with respective data sets arriving there, which were transmitted via the network 19 for electronically transmitting at least image data 02. Thus, the data made available by the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage containing the arrangement information or placement information control, either directly or via the computer 08 for control and/or monitoring of the printing press, the computer 17 performing the function of a data manager or the control device 14 of one of the illustrating devices 13 in the sense of a selective further processing of that data set which contains complete information regarding one of the pages of the printed product to be manufactured.

For example, a data set containing the complete information regarding one of the pages of the printed product to be manufactured proceeds from the computer 17 performing the function of a data manager via data lines 16 first to an interface 26, which is in connection with a respective control device 14 of an illustrating device 13 and is designed at least as a data interface, wherein the interface 26 preferably has a memory, in particular a shock-resistant memory, for example a semiconductor memory, in which at least one data set containing the complete information regarding one of the pages of the printed product to be manufactured and made available at the interface 26 is temporarily stored. At the same time the interface 26 can also be designed as a hardware interface, which is physically connected with at least one of the data lines 16. Each data set containing the complete information regarding one of the pages of the printed product to be manufactured and received at the interface 26 is conducted, if required after a temporary storage, to a decentralized raster image processor (RIP) 03, which is connected with a control device 14 of an illustrating device 13, which is a part of the interface 26, which processor separates the color separation relevant to the respective printing image location from the data set and provides it with a raster, whereupon the illustrating device 13 illustrates, by means of the raster data 04 previously generated in the decentralized raster image processor (RIP) 03, the printing forme arranged on the forme cylinder 12, or the printing image location on the forme cylinder 12, with a printing image.

It is advantageous to temporarily store the raster data 04 generated in a decentralized raster image processor (RIP) 03 in, for example, an intermediate memory which is connected with the respective interface 26 in order to decouple the raster-forming process from the illustrating process. However, this memory can also only buffer a data flow required for illustrating, i.e. data entering the memory in the course of an ongoing illustrating process are only briefly stored there and are immediately passed on in accordance with requirements to the next device requiring these data.

The decentralized raster image processors (RIP) 03 retained in connection with each printing image location have been realized, for example, in an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), i.e. fixedly implemented. Alternatively, the decentralized raster image processors (RIP) 03, the same as the interface 26 and/or the control device 14, can also be embodied on the basis of software technology, i.e. in the form of a program performing the respective functions, and can perform in a suitable computer. Since each decentralized raster image processor (RIP) 03 needs to perform the raster formation for only a single one of the, for example, four color separations, the performance capacity of this decentralized raster image processor (RIP) 03 can be designed to be less in comparison with a raster image processor (RIP) 03 centrally retained in the pre-printing stage.

The concept of local image data processing described in connection with FIG. 4 has the advantage that the machine unit 18 with its printing units 11 and its various control devices constitutes an independent unit, which can independently process and evaluate image data 02 of a page to be produced, which have been received from the pre-printing stage. The area of the pre-printing stage and the area to be assigned to the actual printing process, which in particular can be embodied as a press room, can be far separated spatially. The network 19 for transmitting at least image data 02 can also be a public, for example world-wide operating network, for example the internet or any other network suitable for the transmission of electronic data, over which network the data sets containing the complete information regarding a page, are sent, for example encrypted, by a publishing house, which has put together the respective pages of a printed product to be manufactured, along with its respective image data 02 and/or raster data 04, to a remotely located print shop. Then the assignment of the individual color separations to defined printing image locations preferably occurs only in the relevant machine unit 18. It can also be provided that the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage, or at least the computers 17 performing the function of a data manager, conduct for example each data set containing the complete information regarding a page simultaneously in accordance with a “broadcast” principle to all printed image locations arranged at the respective machine unit 18 wherein, however, only that interface 26 selects the image information from the data sets transmitted, for example, via data lines 16, which is the correct one, i.e. intended for it, wherein the image information destined for it results, as a function of the arrangement information or placement information, from the image information which is assigned to the particular printing image location with which this interface 26 corresponds. At least at every control device 14 of one of the illustrating devices 13 arranged at or in the printing press it is thus possible to selectively pick up, i.e. filter out, data and/or data sets transmitted, for example, by a computer 01 of the pre-printing stage by means of the broadcast method, from the network 19 which transmits them because of a linkage with additional information, i.e. for example the arrangement information or placement information, and to supply it to a further processing step, in particular a raster formation in a raster image processor (RIP) 03. Thus, the respective data set containing image data 02 of all printed images of the page of the printed product is made available at the interface 26 of each raster image processor 03, but only those image data 02 from this data set are further selectively processed which are required for producing the printed image at the respective printing image location.

Different network topologies described, for example, in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3, such as ring topology, star topology or double-star topology, are possible in connection with the concept of local image data processing described in connection with FIG. 4. A further advantage of decentralized raster image processors (RIP) 03 is that they can perform the raster-forming process parallel, i.e. simultaneously, which means a time advantage in comparison with a raster image processor (RIP) 03 which is centrally retained in the pre-printing stage. Therefore the raster-forming process can be performed more rapidly.

The exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 5 is based on the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 4. One decentralized raster image processor (RIP) 03 is also respectively provided in the machine unit 18, preferably in association with each printed image location. In contrast with the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 4, a central file server 24 is provided, which is connected with the computer 01 in the pre-printing stage and/or with the control console 08, and which stores the image data 02, made available by the area of the pre-printing stage, of a page of a printed product which preferably is to be produced in several colors. Only information regarding the identification and availability of one of the pages of the printed product to be manufactured is sent, for example by the computer 01 of the pre-printing stage, to the control devices 14 controlling respectively one illustrating device 13. Following the receipt of this information regarding the identification and availability of one of the pages to be produced, the control device 14 controlling an illustrating device 13 obtains the data set regarding the respective location from the central file server 24, for example by means of an FTP (file transfer protocol) method suitable for data exchange. Each data set stored without a raster in the central file server 24 contains the complete information regarding the complete page of the printed product to be manufactured. In the exemplary embodiment explained in connection with FIG. 4, the raster-forming process is performed with the aid of decentralized raster image processors (RIP) 03, wherein only the color separation required at the respective printing image location is selected from the data set and a raster is then formed. The central file server 24 is connected, for example via a dedicated line, with the respective machine unit 18. The concept of a central file server 24 has the advantage that each data set containing the complete information regarding the page of the product to be manufactured can be selectively requested, or called up, as needed, in particular on the basis of the arrangement information relating to at least one printing image location, or on the basis of the placement information relating to at least one printing forme.

With all exemplary embodiments described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5 it is possible to decouple the transmission of the image data 02, raster data 04, or of the data sets containing the complete information regarding the page of the printed product to be manufactured, from the illustrating process by means of intermediate storage.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a detailed design of the network 09 for controlling and/or monitoring the printing press, in particular for controlling drive mechanisms in the printing press, wherein the printing press has a plurality, here three, printing towers 51, which themselves have several printing groups 53, here double printing groups 53. Together with their respective drive units 58, or regulating units 58, and their respective associated drive motors M, the printing groups 53 of a printing tower 51 form a group 68, in particular a printing location group 68, which is connected with a signal line 59 via a lower order drive mechanism control 57 of this group 68. A computing unit 63, for example a higher order drive mechanism control 63, can also manage sub-groups 52 of printing groups 53, for example printing groups 52, or other divisions, with associated drive units 58, or regulating units 58. Further units, preferably units having their own lower order drive mechanism controls 67, are also connected with the signal line 59, for example one or several guide elements 57 and/or one or several folding apparatuses 56. Here, the signal line 59 is advantageously embodied in a ring topology, in particular as a double ring, and has one or several of the properties mentioned in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5. In particular, at least one illustrating device 13 and a control device 14 are respectively assigned to the forme cylinders 12 of the printing units 52, such as had been previously described by means of FIGS. 1 to 5, wherein for maintaining clarity the respective illustrating device 13 and control device 14 are not represented in FIG. 6. In the manner previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5, the control unit 14 of each illustrating device 13 is respectively connected by means of at least one data line 16 with the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, wherein it can be provided that lines laid in the printing press are used for the transmission of data or data sets mentioned in connection with the various networks 07, 09, 19.

In accordance with the example of FIG. 6, drive motors M are respectively assigned to the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, which are connected by means of at least one data line 59 directly or indirectly with each other and with a computing and data processing unit 61, for example a computer 61. The computing and data processing unit 61 can additionally have an operating unit, or can be connected with an operating unit 60, for example a control console 60. The drive units 58, or regulating units 58 can in principle be connected with the signal line 59 in series (not represented) directly in a ring, bus or other network structure, or—as represented—in a tree structure by signal lines 62.

At least one signal line 59 conducts signals of a reference shaft position Phi, which is specified by a higher order drive control 63. Together with the computing unit 63, the signal line 59 represents the so-called virtual reference shaft 59, 63 (electronic shaft) for the units connected with it, on which the units orient themselves in regard to their seating or position. This reference shaft position Phi is passed on to the drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58 as a specification (command value). The computing and data processing unit 61 provides a specification regarding the desired production speed in particular to the higher order drive control 63 and is therefore connected with the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, via the higher order drive control 63, the signal line 59 (cross communication) and the signal lines 62.

A specific offset Delta Phi, for example an angular offset Delta Phi, can be specified for each one of the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, which fixes a permanent, but adjustable displacement in regard to the reference shaft position Phi. This offset Delta Phi can, for example, be directly entered at the drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, and/or via the computing and data processing unit 61, and/or can be stored and called up for specific operating situations, in particular specific web guidance, in a memory of the computing and data processing unit 61. If the signal line 59 is appropriately designed, for example as a broad-band network, preferably as a real-time-capable field bus, preferably as a standardized field bus known by the designation SERCOS, the information regarding the respectively specified and fixed offset Delta Phi, as well as the “rotating” reference shaft position Phi, can take place via the common signal line 59 if desired. The signal line 59 can also additionally be connected with a respective control system 74, which controls and/or regulates, for example, the actuating members and drive mechanisms, which are different from the drive motors M, of the printing units 52, or printing groups 56, for example ink supply, actuating movements of rollers and/or cylinders, dampening units, positions, etc.

The field bus known by the designation SERCOS has been standardized in accordance with the international standard IEC 61491. Details regarding the design of a SERCOS field bus can be taken from this standard. In contrast to office communication applications, an industrial communication system for linking a multitude of field devices is called a field bus, wherein field devices can be embodied as sensors, actuating members or drive mechanisms, and wherein data transmission security in the at least partially quite long transmission paths extending for some hundreds of meters between the decentrally arranged field devices is assured in spite of the rough surroundings in an industrial environment with, for example, its wide temperature ranges, many types of dirt accumulation and intense electromagnetic interferences. Various field bus systems having different properties have established themselves in the marketplace, however, the basic properties of field bus systems have been standardized in the international standard IEC 61158. The SERCOS field bus is particularly suited for linking drive mechanisms, in particular also positionally-regulated drive mechanisms. A third-generation SERCOS field bus called SERCOS III makes use of the mechanisms of an ethernet communication system and is real-time-capable, i.e. the signal processing speed required for communications between field devices in a SERCOS network is at least just as fast as the signal-generating sequences, or those to be controlled, for example the rotation of the forme cylinders 12 in the printing press. A further often employed field bus is known by the designation PROFIBUS, wherein the properties of this field bus are defined in particular in the international standard IEC 61784 in connection with the international standard 61158. In the embodiment as PROFINET, field devices laid out for PROFIBUS are linked, for example by means of a proxy or proxy server, i.e. a service program making connections in the data traffic, or a special I/O controller, which also makes connections in the data traffic between field devices, to an ethernet system, wherein a proxy puts respective data into a valid standardized format, preferably for both directions of communication between field devices, for example. Thus, the various networks (07, 09, 19) are respectively preferably connected with each other by means of a relay device, which relays the data traffic between the networks (07, 09, 19), wherein this relay device can be designed as a proxy or controller.

The respective offset Delta Phi in respect to the reference shaft position Phi is transmitted, for example prior to the start of production, from the control console 60, or from the computing and data processing unit 61, to the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, and is stored there. In an advantageous embodiment the offset Delta Phi can be changed during operations, or production, of the printing press at the drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, itself, in particular via the computing and data processing unit 61.

In a variation, the offset values Delta Phi for the various drive units 58, or regulating units 58, can also be stored in the higher order drive control 63. In this case each drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, receives as a predetermined value the sum of the rotating reference shaft position Phi and the specific, stored offset value Delta Phi of the respective drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, via the signal lines 59, 62 (or, in case of a series connection, only 59).

Thus, all drive units 58, or regulating units 58, for example the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, of the two first units, for example designed as printing towers 51, as well as the drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, of the unit designed as a folding apparatus 58, respectively follow the rotating reference shaft position Phi from the higher order drive control 63 with a respectively fixed offset value Delta Phi relative to the absolute position of the reference shaft position Phi.

In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 6, the signal line 59 is connected with several, here two, higher order drive controls 63, each of which can feed in signals which are different from each other, of a respective reference shaft position Phi a, Phi b of a reference shaft, into the signal line 59. This is advantageous, for example, if the printing press, or its printing towers 51 and/or printing units 52 and/or printing groups 53, and the associated folding apparatuses 56, as well as guide elements 57 are to be capable of being assigned to several sections 71, 72, which can be operated separately or together. However, production processes and web guidances can exceed the section separation, which is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 6, and can be guided from printing units 53 of one section to printing units 53 of the other, and/or folding apparatuses 56 of the other section 71, 72. For example, the individual printing towers 51 can be assigned to different folding apparatuses 56. Inside of a printing tower 51, sub-groups, for example printing units 53, can be assigned to different webs of the material to be imprinted by means of different web guidance devices, and can be conducted to one common, or even to different, folding apparatuses 56. Thus, logically the sections 71, 72 should not be considered to be rigid units, but to be cooperating machine units 18. In this exemplary embodiment the two higher order drive controls 63 respectively form a section control device 23, such as had been previously described in connection with FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

The higher order drive controls 63 receive their specifications regarding the starting point and production speeds in the respective sections 71, 72, and/or the web guidance, from a respectively assigned computing and data processing unit 61 which is in turn connected with at least one control console 60. In an advantageous embodiment the two computing and data processing units 61 are connected with each other via a signal line 64, as well as with a further signal line 73, which connects several, here two, control consoles 60 with each other. Thus, the three signal lines 59, 64, 73 constitute different levels of the network 09 for controlling and/or monitoring the printing press. In an advantageous embodiment, data sets to be transmitted through the network 19 for transmitting image data 02 and/or raster data 04, are transmitted at least via the signal line 73, but if required also via the signal line 64, wherein preferably the control consoles 60 and/or the computing and data processing units 61 manage the respective data and/or data sets in regard to their respectively required data flow and guide them to their respective target address or retain them, ready for call-up, in a memory device designed, for example, as a file server 24. The entire network 09 for controlling and/or monitoring the printing press can preferably be embodied to be ethernet-based in all its various control levels, for example as a SERCOS III field bus, or as a PROFINET field bus.

Offset values Delta Phi for the respective production relevant to the individual drive units 58, or regulating units 58, are fed by the computing and data processing unit 61, or computing and data processing units 61, via the signal line 64 to the respective lower order drive controls 67 assigned to the respective drive units 58, or regulating units 58, and are preferably stored there and processed with the reference shaft position Phi a, Phi b into the reference shaft positions Phi. If sub-groups 52, for example printing units 52, of a group 68 of, for example a printing tower 51, are assigned to two different webs, the lower order drive control 67 processes, depending on the association of the respective image printing location to one or the other web, the reference shaft position Phi a, Phi b of the reference shaft Phi assigned to the appropriate drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, with the offset value Delta Phi preset for this web guidance.

However, in this example the transmission to the lower order drive controls 67 does not take place directly, but via a control system 74, which is assigned to the respective group 68, or to the unit (for example a folding apparatus 56) having its own lower order drive control 67. For example, the control system 74 is connected with the signal line 64 (or with the computing and data processing unit 61) either by means of its own signal lines 75, or line sections of the signal lines 75 are components of the signal line 64 embodied as network 64. The control system 74 controls and/or regulates, for example, the actuating members and drive mechanisms, which are different from the drive motors M, of the printing units 52, or printing location groups 68, or printing groups 53, or folding apparatuses 56, for example ink supply, actuating movements of rollers and/or cylinders, dampening units, positions, etc. The control system 74 has one or several (in particular memory-programmable) control units 76. This control unit 76 is connected via a signal line 77 with the lower order drive control 67. In case of several control units 76, these are also connected with each other by means of the signal line 77.

In an advantageous embodiment, the control system 74, or its control units 76, is/are releasably connected with the signal line 64 by non-represented coupling devices, for example network coupling devices respectively designed as interface cards, for example by a proxy. Because of this the group 68 can in principle be operated as a self-contained unit, wherein the control of the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, takes place via the string of the lower order drive control 67 with the signal line 62, and the control of the further functions of the group 68 via the string of the control system 74. Command values, as well as actual values, and deviations can be entered or issued via the coupling device. In this case the lower order drive control 67 takes over the specification of a reference shaft position Phi. For this reason, and for reasons of redundancy, it is advantageous if all lower order drive controls 67 are embodied with the option of generating and specifying a reference shaft position Phi.

Thus, in the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 6, the offset values Delta Phi are provided to the respective drive control 67 from the signal line 64 via the respective control system 74. In this case the offset values Delta Phi can be alternatively issued to the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, and can be stored and processed there.

In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 6, the higher order drive control 63 can be omitted if, for example, one or several groups 68, or one of the units (for example the folding apparatus 56) which has its own lower order drive control 67, have a lower order drive control 67. In this case the virtual reference shaft, or reference shaft position Phi, can then be specified by one of the drive controls 67, for example.

Separate signal lines 59 or 64, 75, 77 can be provided for the rotation of a reference shaft not yet matched to the individual drive units 58, or regulating units 58, and for the information regarding the angular position (offset values Delta Phi, registration deviations). Thus, on the one hand, the basic orientation of the individual drive units 58, or regulating units 58, can take place by means of the transmission and/or change of the offset values Delta Phi, as can also a correction of the angular position required in the course of production in regard to the adjustment of a linear registration via the separate signal line 64, 75, 77 to the lower order drive controls 67 (or the drive units 58, or regulating units 58 themselves). In case of a registration regulation, for example, an appropriate actuating value is fed to the control 67 via the signal line 77 and, in the course of the determination of the specific angular command value position regarding the individual drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, it is superimposed on the command value formed by the reference shaft position Phi, Phi a, Phi b and offset Delta Phi. By proceeding this way an increased data flow over the signal line 59 conducting the reference shaft is avoided. It is also not necessary to transmit many different data packets already matched to the respective drive units 58, or regulating units 58, through this signal line 59. In relation to the individual drive unit 58, or-regulating unit 58, this would result in a clearly reduced possible signal rate. The lower order drive controls 67 only manage a tightly limited number of drive units 58, or regulating units 58, so that the data in the signal lines 62 are correspondingly manageable. However, this is not comparable with the number of all drive units 58, or regulating units 58, assigned to a complete section 71, 72.

For all described embodiments at least one reference shaft position Phi, Phi a, Phi b is specified by at least one drive control 63, 67, at which the drive units 58, or regulating units 58, of the various units, which are driven mechanically independently of each other, orient themselves regarding their position. A specific offset value Delta Phi can be assigned to each one of these drive units 58, or regulating units 58, which respectively represents the relative command value position in regard to the reference shaft position Phi, Phi a, Phi b of the assigned reference shaft. Thus, for example, for a defined production, respectively specific offset values Delta Phi in relation to the reference shaft relevant to the production are assigned to all drive units 58, or regulating units 58, which are mechanically independent from each other, of the printing towers 51 (or printing units 52, or printing groups 53), as well as to the assigned drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, of the folding apparatus 56, and possibly the guide elements 57.

Essentially these offset values Delta Phi are based on purely geometric relationships. They are dependent, for one, on the selected web guidance, i.e. on the web path between the individual units. Otherwise they can be a function of an accidental or selected zero position of the individual drive units 58, or regulating units 58. The latter does not apply to the individual drive unit 58, or regulating unit 58, if their zero position coincides with the zero position of the reference shaft.

In a simplified representation, FIG. 7 shows by way of example a folding apparatus 81 of the printing press. Preferably several continuous webs 82 of the material to be imprinted embodied as a web of material and previously imprinted in the printing press respectively run, drawn by a pair of draw-in rollers 83, which is driven by a motor, into the folding apparatus 81, wherein several bundles of continuous web 85 are brought together at a roller pair 84, for example. The continuous webs 82 of material to be imprinted, which have been brought together and placed on top of each other, are conveyed on by a, for example 7 fold transport cylinder 87, which works together with, for example, a four-fold cutting cylinder 86. On its circumference, the cutting cylinder 86 has cutters 88, which extend in its axial direction and are preferably arranged equidistantly offset and work together with cutting gaps 89 formed in the circumference of the transport cylinder 87. Each copy of the printed product, which has been cut transversely to the conveying direction of the continuous webs 82, is maintained on the shell face of the transport cylinder 87 by a holding device 91, for example a spur point strip 91, arranged on its circumference.

Furthermore, seven folding blades 92 have been attached to the transport cylinder 87 which, each time they reach a gap 93 (every time or every multiple time, depending on either collecting or normal operation) between the transport cylinder 87 and a folding jaw cylinder 94 arranged downstream thereof in the conveying direction of the material to be imprinted, are extended for handing over the copies of the printed product conveyed on the transport cylinder 87 to the folding jaw cylinder 94 and to fold them. To this end, the folding jaw cylinder 94 has, evenly spaced apart in the circumferential direction, for example just as many folding jaws (not represented) as the number of folding blades 92 and/or holding devices 91 on the transport cylinder 87, in this case seven in particular. The folded copies of the printed product are transferred from the folding jaw cylinder 94 to a paddle wheel 96 and are deposited by the latter on a deposit device 97, for example a conveyor belt 97. A device for making a third fold (not represented), i.e. a second longitudinal fold, can be preferably provided inside the folding apparatus 81.

The folding apparatus 81 which, the same as a printing unit 11, also constitutes a machine unit 18 of the printing press, is preferably also linked with the network 09 for controlling and/or monitoring the printing press, for example in accordance with the detailed representation in FIG. 6. By means of this it is possible to control at least one, however preferably each one of the illustrating devices 13 provided in the printing press, together with its control unit 14, as a function of the folded product to be made in the folding apparatus 81. It is in particular possible to control at least one printing image location to be illustrated as a function of a cutting register of the folding apparatus 81.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   -   01 Computer     -   02 Image data     -   03 Computer, raster image processor     -   04 Raster data     -   05 —     -   06 Memory device     -   07 Network in the pre-printing stage     -   08 Computer, control console     -   09 Network for controlling the printing press     -   10 —     -   11 Printing unit, H-printing unit     -   12 Forme cylinder     -   13 Illustrating device     -   14 Control device     -   15 —     -   16 Data line     -   17 Computer     -   18 Machine unit     -   19 Network for image data and/or raster data     -   20 —     -   21 Logic unit     -   22 Drive mechanism control device     -   23 Section control device     -   24 File server     -   25 —     -   26 Interface     -   27 to 50 —     -   51 Printing tower     -   52 Sub-group, printing unit     -   53 Printing group, double printing group     -   54 —     -   55 —     -   56 Folding apparatus     -   57 Guide element     -   58 Drive unit, control unit     -   59 Signal line, connection     -   60 Operating unit, control console     -   61 Computing and data processing unit, computer     -   62 Signal line, network, bus     -   63 Computing unit, drive mechanism control, higher order     -   64 Signal line     -   65 —     -   66 —     -   67 Drive mechanism control, lower order     -   68 Group, printing location group     -   69 —     -   70 —     -   71 Section     -   72 Section     -   73 Signal line     -   74 Control system     -   75 Signal line     -   76 Control unit     -   77 Signal line     -   78 —     -   79 —     -   80 —     -   81 Folding apparatus     -   82 Continuous web     -   83 Draw-in roller pair     -   84 Roller pair     -   85 Continuous web bundle     -   86 Cutting cylinder     -   87 Transport cylinder     -   88 Cutter     -   89 Cutting gap     -   90 Holding device, spur point strip     -   91 Folding blade     -   92 Gap     -   93 Folding jaw cylinder     -   94 —     -   95 Paddle wheel     -   96 Deposit device, conveyor belt     -   Phi Reference shaft position     -   Phi a Reference shaft position     -   Phi b Reference shaft position     -   M Drive motor 

1-56. (canceled)
 57. A device for producing a printing image at least one printing image location comprising: at least one printing press having at least several printing image locations; at least one illustrating device usable to form at least one printed image at said several printing image locations, said at least one printed image being a part of a page of a printed product to be produced by said at least one printing press, said page, prior to formation of its printed images, existing in the form of a data set containing image data of all said printed images of said page of the product produced; a raster image processor assigned to each said printing image location, each said raster image processor adapted to convert said image data of said page of the printed product assigned to one of said several printing image locations into raster data; a network adapted for electronic communication of at least said image data, each said raster image processor being connected to said network; and an interface connecting each said raster image processor to said network, said interface being adapted to receive said image data, said network making said data set including said image data regarding all of said printed images of said page of the printed product available at each said raster image processor.
 58. The device of claim 57 wherein said at least one printing press includes at least one forme cylinder, at least one of said printing image locations being on said forme cylinder.
 59. The device of claim 51 wherein said at least one printing press has a plurality of forme cylinders located following each other in a transport direction of a material to be printed in said printing press.
 60. The device of claim 59 wherein one illustrating device is assigned to each of said forme cylinders.
 61. The device of claim 60 wherein each said illustrating device forms at least one of said printed images at said printing image location of each said forme cylinder.
 62. The device of claim 57 wherein said printed images form at least one portion of said same page of said printed product to be produced by said at least one printing press.
 63. The device of claim 57 wherein each said interface of each said raster image processor selectively takes a portion of said image data to be provided with a raster from said network for electronic communication of at least a portion of said image data on a basis of one of provided arrangement location and placement location with respect to said printed image location.
 64. The device of claim 57 wherein each said illustrating device and each said associated interface, and further including at least one control device adapted to control each said illustrating device, are arranged in said at least one printing press.
 65. The device of claim 59 wherein one of said illustrating devices, one of said raster image processor and a control device for said raster image processor is provided for each said forme cylinder in said printing press.
 66. The device of claim 59 wherein each said forme cylinder has a plurality of said printing image locations in at least one of its axial and circumferential directions.
 67. The device of claim 52 wherein said image data is provided in the form of one of a TIFF data set, a postscript data set and a pdf format data set.
 68. The device of claim 57 wherein said network is a local network.
 69. The device of claim 57 wherein said network is a public network.
 70. The device of claim 57 wherein said interface is adapted to receive said image data transmitted one of over lines and wirelessly.
 71. The device of claim 57 further including a pre-printing stage including a computer adapted to supply said image data to said interface.
 72. The device of claim 57 further including a memory device adapted to store said image data received from said interface.
 73. The device of claim 64 wherein said control device calibrates raster points determined by said raster image processor as a function of an intended printing image location in said printing press.
 74. The device of claim 64 wherein said control device calibrates raster points determined by said raster image processor as a function of one of a color printing ink to be applied to said printing image location and a material to be imprinted with said printed image formed at said printing image location.
 75. The device of claim 64 wherein said control device calibrates raster points determined by said raster image processor as a function of a signal from an inspection system arranged in said printing press and adapted to monitor said printing process.
 76. The device of claim 64 wherein said control device is connected with a computer usable to control and monitor said printing press.
 77. The device of claim 76 wherein said printing press control and monitoring computer is connected to a printing press control and monitoring network.
 78. The device of claim 76 wherein said printing press control and monitoring computer is in a control console which is a part of said printing press.
 79. The device of claim 58 wherein an illustrating position of said at least one illustrating device at a circumference of said forme cylinder is selected as a function of an angular portion of said forme cylinder.
 80. The device of claim 58 wherein each said illustrating device has an illustrating speed in a circumferential direction of said forme, said circumferential illustrating speed being a function of a speed of rotation of said forme cylinder.
 81. The device of claim 57 wherein said raster image processor is a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).
 82. The device of claim 64 wherein said control device, said raster image processor and said interface utilize software technology.
 83. The device of claim 57 wherein said at least one illustrating device forms said printed images at said printing image location on a printing forme.
 84. The device of claim 83 wherein said printing forme is usable for one of wet offset printing and dry offset printing.
 85. The device of claim 83 wherein said printing forme is adapted to be separately illustrated.
 86. The device of claim 83 wherein said printing forme has one printing image location to be illustrated by said illustrating device.
 87. The device of claim 57 further including at least first and second printing image locations in said printing press wherein in a first operating stage of said printing press one of said illustrating devices illustrates at least one of said printing image locations while another of said at least first and second printing image locations participate in a printing operation of said printing press.
 88. The device of claim 57 wherein said printing press prints one of directly and indirectly on material to be imprinted while said material is transported by said printing press.
 89. The device of claim 58 further including a drive mechanism control adapted to control a drive mechanism of said at least one forme cylinder.
 90. The device of claim 89 wherein said drive mechanism control conducts a signal corresponding to an angular position of said forme cylinder to a control device of said illustrating device.
 91. The device of claim 58 wherein said forme cylinder includes several axial sections, each said section having at least one said printing image location.
 92. The device of claim 91 further including several of said printing image locations in a circumferential direction of each said forme cylinder section.
 93. The device of claim 91 further including two of said printing image locations in a circumferential direction of each said forme cylinder section.
 94. The device of claim 91 further including one of said illustrating devices assigned to different ones of said forme cylinder sections.
 95. The device of claim 91 further including one of said illustrating devices assigned to each said forme cylinder section.
 96. The device of claim 91 further wherein a single one of said illustrating devices illustrates all of said printing image locations on said forme cylinder in one of a parallel and sequential operating process.
 97. The device of claim 57 wherein said printing press is one of a web-fed rotary printing press and a sheet-fed rotary printing press.
 98. The device of claim 59 wherein each said forme cylinder is driven independently.
 99. The device of claim 59 wherein each of said forme cylinders is adapted to be separately coupled and uncoupled from others of said plurality of forme cylinder during a printing process.
 100. The device of claim 57 further including a data communicating network adapted to communicate data in a pre-printing stage of said printing press.
 101. The device of claim 100 further including a pre-printing stage computer connected to said pre-printing stage data communicating network.
 102. The device of claim 100 further including a printing press controlling and monitoring computer connected with said pre-printing stage data communicating network.
 103. The device of claim 44 further including a network for controlling and monitoring said printing press, and a transmission path, at least two of said network for controlling and monitoring said printing press, said network for communicating data in said pre-printing stage and said network for electronic connection of at least image data are concurrently using said transmission path.
 104. The device of claim 77 wherein a section control device is connected to said network for controlling and monitoring said printing press.
 105. The device of claim 104 wherein said section control device controls at least one assignment of image printing locations to be illustrated to a respective forme cylinder within a section of said printing press having a plurality of forme cylinders.
 106. The device of claim 59 wherein each said forme cylinder having at least one printing image location to be illustrated has a reference shaft position defined with respect to a printing press reference shaft portion, said illustrating device assigned to each said forme cylinder being adapted to illustrate a printing image location of each said forme cylinder as a function of said reference shaft portion of said forme cylinder.
 107. The device of claim 77 further including a folding apparatus in said network for controlling and monitoring said printing press, said folding apparatus having a cutting register, said at least one illustrating device illustrating said at least one printing image location as a function of said cutting register.
 108. The device of claim 57 wherein said illustrating device is one of a single laser system and a laser array including several lasers.
 109. The device of claim 57 wherein said illustrating device is an inkjet system.
 110. The device of claim 57 wherein said illustrating device forms a latent printed image on an image substrate at said printing image location.
 111. The device of claim 57 wherein said illustrating device is adapted to transfer colored printing ink from a color ink carrier pixel-by-pixel to a material to be printed, utilizing a light-hydraulic effect.
 112. The device of claim 57 wherein said network for electronic connection of said at least image data makes available said data set with said image data of all printed images on the page of the printed product at an interface of each said raster image processor. 